Journalist Arrested in Uyo, Flown to Abuja Over Dana Air Facebook Post

Description

[15:54, 1/6/2017] : A young man by name Jerry Edoho, a Journalist and Deputy Editor of the Ibom Nation Newspaper, from Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State sighted me at the Ibom International Airport, Uyo some minutes ago and alerted me that he is being taken forcefully to Abuja by a team of plain cloth security men over a publication on Facebook.


He told me that he was tagged in a post about the recent rumoured crash of a Dana plane which was false. That upon being tagged, he made a post like several other Nigerians asking whether the crash report was true. The security men are conveying him to Abuja via a Dana flight that is scheduled to depart by 4 pm.



The security men confronted me for speaking with him "without their permission". I retorted that Mr. Edoho is a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that his right to freedom of expression cannot be taken away.

This resulted in an altercation between me and the security men whose identify I cannot immediately ascertain. I understand that his arrest followed a petition by Dana Air to the Nigeria Police Force.

I am using this platform to urge both the police and the management of Dana Air to respect the fundamental rights of Mr. Edoho. He should be released on bail pending the conclusion of investigation into whatever allegations are made against him.
This is a democracy, not a dictatorship.


[15:59, 1/6/2017] : Whao. Pls help the guy before they take him away. Happy he was able to accost you.


UPDATE
[19:00, 1/9/2017] : Jerry Edoho, the journalist and blogger who was arrested in Uyo on Friday 6th January 2017 and flown to Abuja over his Facebook post relating to the Dana Air crash rumour has just been released on bail by the Force Headquarters, Abuja. I spoke with him over the phone few minutes ago.